Mandatory Minimums

Lots of Maine news today, Alaska could see "pot cafes," a New Hampshire asset forfeiture bill gets gutted under police pressure, and more.

Marijuana politics is hopping in New England, decrim goes into effect in Tampa, the DEA gets raked for wasting tens of millions on an anti-drug plane that never flew, Florida's governor signs an asset forfeiture reform bill, and more.

Alaska's commercial marijuana regulations advance, so does a Kansas bill lowering pot penalties and a pair of Florida asset forfeiture reform bills, the Irish government ponders pill testing for nightclubs and festivals, a medical marijuana bill is filed in Mexico, and more.

GOP legislators are busy filing retrograde drug bills across the land, from chipping away at medical marijuana in Arizona to public benefits drug testing bills in several states. Meanwhile, a battle looms over federal sentencing reform.

The drug czar IDs heroin and opiate overdoses as his top priority, Bay State Repeal fails to get enough signatures, Massachusetts voters appear ready to support serious sentencing refoms, and more.

Alaska is set to become the first state to allow social on-premises marijuana consumption, sentencing reform advances in Congress, China bans new synthetics, and more.

It's nail-biting time for pot legalizers in Ohio -- and in California--the Obama administration rolls out new measures to deal with heroin and prescription opiates, a federal sentencing reform bill advances, and more.

Oregon dispensaries can now sell marijuana to all comers (21 and over) starting today, a bipartisan group of senators announce a deal on major sentencing reform, Albuquerque's mayor vetoes decrim again, heroin policy on the campaign trail is featured, and more.

What is arguably the most comprehensive attempt to roll back drug war sentencing excesses rolled out yesterday in Washington.

Nearly 20 years after the passage of Prop 215, California may finally get statewide medical marijuana regulation; the Illinois governor's veto pen has an impact, but also gets blunted; there's a new report on drug policy and human rights in Latin America, and more.